by Zoe Chant
"He can learn to live with it," Zach said firmly. He would never force Joel into a situation that was actively bad for him, or unsafe, but this wasn't that, and it wasn't going away. "I know Joel, and he might not like the idea of mates, but that doesn't mean he can't handle it. He'll come around."
To his mild surprise, Teri nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I was going to say, it seems like he’s got a handle on it, especially since it’s not happening to him.”
“Good. I’ll talk to him about it later, but I think he’s going to be fine.”
Teri smiled at him. “I agree.”
“Great.” Zach kissed her again, keeping it quick because if he lingered, he wasn’t going to want to stop. Possibly ever. “Now, how about dinner? We can go out, and then pick up something for Joel to eat when he wakes up.”
“Sounds good.” Teri grinned. “Oliver’s?”
Look at that: they had a regular place to eat. Zach couldn’t contain the happy grin. “Oliver’s.”
***
Once they’d been seated at a booth and placed their orders, Teri leaned forward. Zach responded by leaning in as well, and when Teri spoke across the few inches separating them, it was in a low voice. Secretive.
“Joel mentioned something about shifters to me that I hadn’t known before.”
Zach’s eyebrows went up. “Oh? What was it?” He tried to think about what Joel and Teri might have wanted to discuss.
“He said shifters can bite humans and change them.” Teri’s voice was almost inaudible.
Oh. He hadn’t been thinking about this at all. “Theoretically, yes.”
“Theoretically?”
“Well, I’ve never done it, or seen it done. But I know someone who has.” Grey’s mate, Alethia, had been born human and changed into a snow leopard. She was cheerfully open about it, so even though he’d only met her once, he’d learned that she’d been changed.
“Life is so much better this way,” she’d told him, at the Park staff Christmas party where they’d met, just after he’d been hired. “I can’t imagine going back to my old life. Being a shifter is how I was meant to be, and Grey knew that.”
As though sensing he was being talked about, Grey had looked over at them from across the room, and Alethia had given him a knowing smile. And Zach might have been imagining it, but it had almost looked like Grey blushed slightly.
“So it’s not theoretical,” Teri said now. Zach shook himself out of the memory, although he couldn’t help but wonder if he and Teri would be sharing across-the-room connections at the next Glacier Christmas gathering.
“You know someone who changed someone else?” Teri pressed.
Zach nodded. “One of the rangers—Grey Landin, you met him yesterday. His mate, Alethia, was born human. He changed her.”
Teri looked him in the eye. “I want that, Zach,” she said. “I want you to change me.”
His first, instinctive reaction was, Yes! His leopard snarled in satisfaction at the idea of their mate shifting alongside them, running with them, hunting with them. Vanishing up into the mountains together, just the two of them, alone in the wilderness as mates...
Zach forcibly reined his instincts in. He knew better than to just go along with whatever his leopard thought was best. He needed to think about this.
But all of his thoughts were Yes. From the determined expression on Teri’s face, she felt it as strongly as he did.
“Are you sure?” he asked finally. “I want you to be sure.”
“I’m sure. I know it’s a big decision,” she said steadily. “I want this, Zach. I think I’ve wanted it for a long time.”
That caught his attention. “I thought you were raised to think shifters were evil. You wanted to be one even though we were supposed to be vicious animals?”
“I was never sold on vicious animals, really,” Teri said, her mouth quirking. “And...I remember this so clearly, even though it was years and years ago. I was at the Park, walking along a totally deserted trail. Far away from the usual tourist places. And I saw a snow leopard.”
Zach’s eyes went wide. “Wow,” he said. “Someone’s probably kicking himself about that to this day. I wonder who it was.”
“I have no idea,” Teri said. “But it was so beautiful, so powerful...I knew it had to be a shifter, of course, because there’s no snow leopards naturally living in Glacier. And at first I was afraid, but it didn’t attack me, didn’t make any kind of violent move. Just vanished into the mountains. And I thought, I wish I could do that.”
She shook her head. “I never knew it was really possible. When I met you, and I saw you shift, I thought that it would be enough to be close to a shifter like this. To be part of you, because we’re mates. And I love being part of you, and I want to be together forever. But I also want so, so badly to be a snow leopard too, Zach. Will you change me?”
All of the sensible thoughts, all of the practical instincts he’d honed in himself for years, all of the caution and wariness about risk, had totally evaporated. Zach knew what the right answer was, and it came out of his mouth without any need for conscious thought: “Yes.”
It felt strangely like accepting a marriage proposal—something that, as a man, he'd never thought he'd do. But he was filled with a sense of exhilaration, and commitment, and his entire self was thrilled at the idea of what the future was going to hold.
Teri at his side, as a leopard. He and Joel and Teri as a little pack of leopards, within the larger pack of the Glacier rangers.
Leopard cubs, someday.
He couldn't wait. He didn't know why he'd hesitated at all.
And his leopard was in complete agreement. It was eager, ready to leap up and run outside to do the change right this second.
Our food hasn't even come yet, Zach reminded it, although he knew it wouldn't care. He was right; even to leopards, some things were more important than food.
Teri's eyes were shining. "Thank you," she said.
"No." Zach thought his own eyes were probably shining too. "Thank you. For wanting this, and for asking for it. I would've been too hidebound to suggest it to you."
"Then I'm glad I asked." Teri's grin faded a bit, from something happy into something...mischievous. "Wait, does that mean that it's my job to be the adventurous one in this relationship?"
"Definitely," Zach said without hesitation. "I'm always the responsible one. I can't help it. Comes of being the oldest sibling."
"And I'm the rebellious one," Teri said thoughtfully. "Comes of being the youngest."
"I want that." Zach reached across the table and took her hand. "Joel's always doing wild things, running around in the mountains—he's calmed down a lot since he took all those crazy risks as a kid, but he's still the sort of person who thinks adventure is fun. And when he does it, I have to be the voice of reason, because it's always been my job to protect him...and I can remember what happened when it went wrong."
Teri squeezed his hand, and Zach had to blink a couple of times at the realization that the memory of Joel caught midway through his change, being hit by rocks and crying out in futile pain, wasn't his own secret and burden to bear anymore. He'd gotten so used to it being a horrible thing that he kept tucked next to his heart for him alone—because Joel had actually been through it, so Zach wasn't ever going to try and ask him for support when he couldn't help but remember.
But it wasn't anymore. He had his mate with him, and she knew when he was remembering, and she wanted to support him. It might've felt scary if it had been anyone else, but because it was Teri, it felt...secure. Safe.
"I know I can trust you," Zach said, hoping his voice wasn't too scratchy. "I don't feel like I need to watch out for you, protect you. Joel's smart enough not to need protection, but part of me's always going to want to give it. With you..." The overwhelming emotions inside of him were slowly transforming, until all he could feel anymore was happiness. "If you want to have an adventure, I'm going to want to run out beside you and join in."
Zach shook his head. "No, we already started with this one." He brought one of her hands to his lips and kissed it.
"The best adventure of all," Teri said. Zach had never felt anything to be more true.
***
As they headed back to Zach's place, Teri was nervous, but in a good, exciting way. She knew her life was about to irrevocably change, for the second time in two days.
And she couldn't wait.
She almost wished they could do the change in the Park, but she knew Zach wasn't going to risk going somewhere they might be seen. Especially not after what had happened to Joel as a kid.
And frankly, Teri might be adventurous, but she liked to think she was smart, too. And it wouldn't be at all smart to change for the first time somewhere a hiker might happen by at any moment, even if it looked deserted.
So they went back to Zach's home. And that was appropriate too, Teri thought. They were building a home together. This home would be hers, sometime—she was willing to wait until Joel was comfortable with the idea, but she was sure that it would happen eventually. So it was right to start her new life as a shifter here, just as she'd started her new life as Zach's mate upstairs in his bed.
The thought made her flush. It felt like forever since they'd made love, even though it had only been last night. She couldn't wait to get him up there again, get his clothes off, see all that fantastically tanned, muscled skin, feel it under her hands...
"Teri?"
Teri started, and glanced over at Zach. "Hm?"
"We're here." He was wearing a knowing smile that suggested he knew approximately what she'd been thinking about.
Teri hustled herself out of the car and into the house. Zach was vanishing upstairs, but he reappeared after a second. "Joel's still asleep," he said quietly. "Let's store his dinner and do this."
They put the takeout order they'd gotten for Joel in the fridge. So domestic, Teri thought, with a strange shiver of delight, picking up food for her family when she went out with her mate, just like it was an ordinary evening.
Then they went out to the backyard. Teri stopped when Zach did, not sure exactly how this was going to go. The nervousness was getting sharper now.
Zach turned and took her in his arms. Instantly, all apprehension vanished; Teri just wanted to be this close to Zach for the rest of their natural lives. Did they ever have to let go of each other? And why? It seemed silly.
After a long moment, Zach let her go—and then kissed her fiercely, as though he couldn't help himself. Teri pulled him close and kissed back, opening her mouth. The kiss became a hot, passionate thing, with tongues and teeth and panting breath. For a second, Teri wondered if they were going to have to put off the change so they could have sex right here on the lawn.
But Zach tore himself away, breathing harshly. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Teri said breathlessly. "Let's do it."
Zach nodded, took a step back...and changed.
It was still weird, watching his whole body shift and blur, but now Teri was trying to picture herself doing that. She couldn't imagine it. What would it be like?
When Zach was fully in his leopard form, Teri took a step forward and reached out. He came to her, sliding his head underneath her hand, and her fingers closed in his fur. He felt so warm, so right...and there was such a sense of leashed power underneath his skin. This was a wild animal...but it was also her mate, and she knew that all that wildness was hers.
And soon she'd have her own.
Zach opened his mouth. His teeth glinted sharply in the twilight. Slowly, Teri pushed back her sleeve and held out her arm.
His jaws closed around it. She could feel his hot breath washing over her skin, and then he bit down. Lightly, so lightly, too lightly to do anything. The pressure increased so slowly, by tiny increments. He didn't want to hurt her, she could tell, so he was taking no chances.
Finally, the aching pressure of his teeth sharpened, and at last there was a lancing pain as her skin broke. A wave went over her.
All her life, Teri had felt unsettled. Like she wasn’t in the right place. Like she didn’t belong in her parents’ house, or with her dull and passionless boyfriends, or working her menial job. But even more than that, like she had to get out, to find where she fit. She’d never had the means to leave town, so she’d found her out in the Park.
That had always felt right to her. The most right she’d ever known for herself.
But that was nothing compared to this.
The snow leopard rose inside her. Her own leopard, hers, curled in her chest and waiting to be set free. She was gorgeous and fierce and alive. She was wild and free and nothing could stop her.
And she was Teri, and Teri was her.
Teri embraced the snow leopard with all of her being, and changed.
She was conscious of being on four feet, of her heavy thick tail balancing her body. She flexed her claws, and it felt wonderful; shook out her fur, and it felt even better.
She padded forward on the grass. Looked around the yard.
There was the tree Zach had climbed when he’d shown her his own leopard the other day. She could understand why. With her new eyes, it looked like the ideal place to sit and wait for prey, or survey her domain, or take a lazy afternoon nap.
Without thinking, she started toward it, speeding up until she was running lightly across the grass. She leapt for the trunk, claws sinking into the wood like she’d done it a thousand times before, and climbed swiftly up into the branches. She settled onto the widest of them, tail hanging down, and looked down at Zach, sitting on his haunches on the grass below, blinking a slow feline blink of approval.
Teri leapt down from the tree, startling herself with how quickly and easily she managed it. She hadn't even hesitated at jumping from such a high branch, because she knew in her bones that she could do it without any trouble at all.
She ran to Zach, and bit playfully at his side, then ran off. He chased after her, and they bounded around the yard like little kittens, jumping at each other, running little races, pouncing and rolling around on the grass.
Teri had never, ever had as much fun as this.
Finally, they dropped to the grass together, exhausted. Teri nosed her way along Zach's flank until she was curled up right next to him. She felt ready to just take a nap. She could dimly remember reading somewhere that cats, as the highest-level predators on earth, expended tons of energy in short bursts and then slept for long periods of time to replenish it.
She was just drifting off, loving the warm feeling of Zach breathing against her fur, when she heard the back door open. She lifted her head as a familiar scent drifted out from the house.
Teri's human side marveled at this—she wouldn't have thought that she knew what Joel smelled like. But her leopard nose recognized him instantly, and marked him as not-a-threat, as part of the pack. Go to sleep, her leopard was insisting. We were about to have a nice nap.
But Teri was wondering what Joel would do, so she kept herself awake. Beside her, Zach had lifted his head, and was watching the door.
Joel stood there for a long moment, looking at them curled up on the lawn together. And then he stepped out the door...and changed.
His form was more gray than white, unlike Zach's, and he was huskier, more heavily muscled. But he had the same markings on his face and tail, and when he moved, Teri saw exactly the same wild grace.
He came trotting up to them, sniffing the ground around them, and touching noses with Zach. He sniffed at Teri, and she sniffed back, smelling only family and safety from him.
Finally, Joel trotted off again...to the same tree. Teri grinned internally—looked like there might be some fighting for prime branch real estate in their future.
Joel climbed up much higher than Teri had gone, and settled into a little hollow that Teri wouldn't have th
ought would support his weight. Against the grey-brown of the trunk and in the evening darkness, with his dappled coat, once he stopped moving he all-but-disappeared.
Zach relaxed again, stretching out his paws and then curling around Teri once more, so Teri snugged into him and let her eyes drift closed.
It felt...right. Pressed up against Zach's warm body, taking a nap out on the lawn in the twilight, while Joel perched on the tree above them, close by. Teri could picture so many nights like this in the future. Relaxing in the evening with her family.
She dozed a little. It was amazing how comfortable she was in her snow leopard's body. As a human, she’d been so focused on how much better she was that she hadn't thought about how much she'd still been feeling exhaustion, aches and pains, soreness...all of the long-term effects of not only the accident, but the long, long recovery.
All of that was gone now. She felt wonderful, strong and comfortable in her body and happy. It was amazing.
Their naps ended when Joel leapt down from the tree, padding over to where they lay. He shifted, blurring and changing until he was standing over them as a human.
Teri shifted too, feeling like it was only polite, and next to her Zach did the same. He stood up and offered her a hand, so she took it and pulled herself up so that they were all standing together.
Joel was looking at her. He said, "You smell like family."
"Thank you." Teri didn't know exactly where Joel was going with this, but she knew she was grateful to hear it.
"You should move in," Joel said. "You belong here. I didn't realize it before, but now..." He looked around at the house and the yard. "You and Zach smell like you belong together. And this was nice, tonight, all of us here as a family. So. Don't stay away because you think I wouldn't like it. I would like it."
Teri stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Joel. There was a moment where he stiffened, and she wondered if she'd made the wrong choice, but then he hugged her back. She inhaled and thought the same thing—Joel smelled like family.
She stepped back and said, "I've never had a brother before. I'm looking forward to it."
Joel grinned, a quick flash of teeth, there and gone in a brief second. "We'll see if you're still saying that after a month. Listen, I'm headed out," this to Zach. "Going to hang out in the mountains for a while. I spent last night stuck in human form at the bottom of that crevasse, I need to shift and run."
